Desperados Comeback Again, Win 53-51
Published on April 5, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
DALLAS, Texas - For the second consecutive week, the Dallas Desperados (6-0) overcame the largest deficit in team history to remain undefeated, coming back from 30 points down in the second quarter handing the Columbus Destroyers (2-3) a 53-51 loss. The previous week, Dallas came back from 23-points down, beating the Austin Wranglers 68-64.
The Destroyers opened the game with the ball and were held to a 62-yard Peter Martinez field goal that fell short, giving the Desperados the ball at their own 19-yard line. Dallas opened the scoring four plays later with a two-yard Clint Dolezel-to-Terrance Dotsy touchdown toss. Columbus answered, driving 45 yards in 10 plays to tie the score after Harold Wells rushed in from two yards out. The ensuing kickoff bounced off the iron and was recovered by David Saunders, giving the Destroyers the ball at the Dallas seven-yard line. Columbus jumped to a 14-7 lead after Matt Nagy found Saunders in the end zone from four yards out on the next play.
The Desperados turned the ball over on downs to open the second quarter and Columbus upped their lead to 17-7 after Martinez drilled a 39-yard field goal. On Dallas's next play, Dolezel scrambled for two yards and coughed the ball up at the Destroyers nine-yard line. Jerald Brown recovered for Columbus then the Destroyers took a 23-7 lead four plays later after Nagy hit Josh Bush for a 25-yard score. Three plays later, Dolezel's pass was intercepted by Rober' Freeman, setting Columbus up at their own 19-yard line. Nagy hit Saunders for a four-yard touchdown with one minute remaining in the half. Will Pettis fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Harold Wells jumped on the loose ball, giving the Destroyers possession at the Dallas 23-yard line. Nagy then hit Damien Groce for a 17-yard score and a 37-7 lead. The Desperados managed to find the end zone before the half as Pettis hauled in a 22-yard Dolezel toss for the score and a 37-14 deficit.
Dallas opened the second half and took four plays to cut the Columbus lead to 37-21 after Pettis caught a 19-yard Dolezel pass in the end zone. The Destroyers then drove 44 yards in 10 plays but were held short of the end zone when Wells fumbled the ball at the one, giving the Desperados the ball back. Dolezel then hooked up with Marcus Nash for a nine-yard touchdown six plays later to cut their deficit to 37-28.
Howard Duncan upped the Destroyers lead to 43-28 on the first play of the final frame. Three plays later, Marcus Nash hauled in a 15-yard Dolezel scoring pass, the two-point pass to Nash cut the deficit to 44-36. Columbus drove to the Dallas five-yard line but were held to a 20-yard Lewis field goal attempt that was no good. The ball was recovered by Bobby Perry in the end zone, giving Dallas the ball at their own five-yard line. Dolezel then found Pettis for a 26-yard touchdown to bring Dallas within two (the two-point conversion failed). A Nagy pass was intercepted by Bobby Keyes at the Columbus eight yard line before Pettis hauled in his third touchdown pass of the game. Dolezel's two-point pass was caught by Nash, giving Dallas a 50-44 lead. Josh Bush deflected the Desperados on-side kick attempt out of bounds, giving Columbus the ball at the Dallas 11-yard line. Tony Locke gave Columbus a one-point lead, 50-51, catching an 11-yard Nagy pass for a touchdown. Pettis caught the ensuing onside kick, setting the Desperados up at the Columbus 17-yard line. The Desperados completed their second consecutive come-back with a Todd Sievers 16-yard field goal as time expired.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 5, 2007
- Desperados Comeback Again, Win 53-51 - Dallas Desperados
- Destroyers Fall to Desperados in the Final Seconds, 53-51 - Columbus Destroyers
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